What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pain after the age of 40. It is a wear of the joint cartilage that leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. It most commonly affects the knees, hips, spine, and fingers.
What helps with osteoarthritis?
- reducing load on the joint
- regular movement
- adjusting activities
- local approaches (ointments, compresses)
Improvement is usually gradual and requires some consistency.
Table of contents
What happens in the joint in osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, or joint wear, is a very common degenerative change in which the joint cartilage gradually thins.
Cartilage in a healthy joint allows smooth movement of the bones. When it begins to wear, increased friction occurs, which over time can lead to pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but most often where the load is greatest – the knees, hips, spine, and fingers.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can remain without symptoms for a long time. When signs appear, they usually develop gradually.
Joint pain and stiffness
Pain most often occurs during movement – for example when walking, standing up, or loading the joint. It is often more pronounced in the evening when the joint is already tired.
Swelling and a feeling of tightness
A soft swelling may appear around the joint as a result of irritation and the body's response.
The joint may be tender to touch or slightly warm. Sometimes there is also a feeling of tightness or “fullness” in the joint.
Reduced mobility and “locking”
Joint mobility gradually decreases. You may feel that the joint “locks” or no longer moves as smoothly as before.
Sometimes cracking or grinding sounds can also occur during movement.
Hard lumps around the joint
In long-standing osteoarthritis, bony growths can develop that feel like hard lumps – especially common on the fingers.
Could it be osteoarthritis in your case?
- knee pain when walking
- morning stiffness
- reduced mobility
- feeling of “locking”
If you recognize yourself in several points, it may indicate early or advanced osteoarthritis.
In some cases, the pain may spread down the leg, similar to sciatica.
Heel pain or joint pain?
If the pain appears mainly during the first steps in the morning, it is often a heel spur.
If the pain occurs in the joint itself and worsens with movement, it is more often associated with osteoarthritis.
Which joints are most commonly affected?
Osteoarthritis can occur in various joints, but most often affects those under the greatest load.
- Knee – due to load from body weight
- Hip – during walking and movement
- Hands – especially fingers
- Spine – due to long-term strain
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms, as the knee joint carries a large part of body weight and is under daily stress. You can read more about what else may cause knee pain here.
Can osteoarthritis be stopped?
Osteoarthritis cannot be completely stopped, but with the right approach its progression can be slowed and symptoms reduced. The key is a combination of movement, reducing joint load, and adjusting activities.
Why does osteoarthritis develop?
Osteoarthritis is not caused by a single factor.
It is most often a combination of:
- aging
- excess body weight
- repetitive strain
- injuries
- genetic predisposition
S staranjem se hrustanec počasneje obnavlja, zato se obraba postopoma kopiči.
How does osteoarthritis progress?
Osteoarthritis develops slowly – often over many years. Early action can significantly slow its progression.
🟢 Early-stage osteoarthritis
The first changes begin in the joint, but most people do not notice them yet.
Pain is usually absent or appears only under greater strain. Movement is still normal.
It is often discovered by chance.
🟡 Mild osteoarthritis
The first signs begin to appear – stiffness after rest and mild pain during movement.
The joint may be more sensitive, especially after prolonged strain.
Typical: in the morning or after sitting
🟠 Moderate osteoarthritis
Pain becomes more frequent and appears even during everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or squatting.
Swelling may also occur, and mobility is noticeably reduced.
At this stage, most people start looking for solutions.
🔴 Severe osteoarthritis
Pain may be present almost constantly, even at rest.
Movement is severely limited, and the joint may lose its normal shape.
Everyday activities become difficult.
How to manage osteoarthritis
Since osteoarthritis involves gradual joint wear, it is important to approach symptom relief in several ways at the same time.
Reducing joint load
Smanjenje opterećenja zahvaćenog zgloba ključno je za ublažavanje boli.
Movement
Adapted movement helps:
- maintain mobility
- reduce stiffness
Complete inactivity only worsens the condition.
Adjusting activities
It is important to reduce activities that additionally strain the joint.
Local approaches
In osteoarthritis, many people use local approaches because they act directly on the painful area.
Kada ima smisla?
- for pain in a specific joint
- for a feeling of tightness
- for swelling
- for reduced mobility
How to use them?
- apply to the affected area 1–2 times daily
- gentle rubbing in
- use a compress if needed for longer contact
When using a compress, it makes sense not to change the material each time, but to gradually “saturate” the same layer.
What to use?
- richer ointments → for longer contact
- creams → for easier daytime application
- combination with a compress → for a stronger effect
Example of compress application on fingers
In finger osteoarthritis, some users apply local approaches in combination with a compress that prolongs contact with the skin. Below is an example of how preparation and application can look.
User experience
I use Smrekovit for worn joints as well as for colds and coughs. I massage the sore areas in the evening and morning and after a week it goes away nicely. However, as I am getting on in years, sometimes it likes to recur. I recommend it to anyone who has a pain somewhere.
Jože Kotnik, Mislinja
[22] handwritten feedback received on 9.12.2014, stored in the Smrekovit archive
I use Smrekovit for worn knee joints in hrbtenici, kot posledica vrhunskega športa pred pol stoletja. Omenjene dele mažem po treningih 3x na teden po 2x na dan. Po treh mesecih mazanja s Smrekovitom so bolečine v sklepih toliko popustile, da lahko grem zopet v fitnes in prakticiram jogo, zato sem zelo zadovoljen. Pomagalo mi je tudi pri zdravljenju pretrgane tetive na nogi in po operaciji dimeljske kile.
Vojmir, Nova Gorica
[40] handwritten feedback received on 5.1.2015, stored in the Smrekovit archive
I had wear and tear in my knee joints. I applied Smrekovit once a day, without a compress. It started to improve immediately, but it didn't settle completely. When I put the ointment on, the pain in my knee disappears.
Milka, Mokronog
[134] handwritten feedback, received 23.12.2014, stored in the Smrekovit archive
Let me briefly describe my problems, which I alleviate with Smrekovit products. I have artritis v malih sklepih rok in bolečine v sklepih zaradi artroze. Vem, da tega nobeno zdravilo ne ozdravi, bolečine si pa blažim z vašimi Smrekovit izdelki, ki mi zelo pomagajo.
Nada, Ajdovscina
[5] handwritten feedback received on 9.1.2016, stored in the Smrekovit archive
Read more user experiences here →
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Smrekovit Klasik spruce resin ointment
Price range: 6,00 € through 35,00 € -
Smrekovit 365 Ekstra – spruce cream with a cooling effect
14,00 € -
Smrekovit 365 Alter - cream with boswellia resin
14,00 € -
Smrekovit compress
3,00 € -
Smrekovit 365 spruce resin cream
14,00 €
Frequently asked questions
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the wear of joint cartilage that causes pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. It most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
What helps with osteoarthritis?
Kod artroze pomaže kombinacija rasterećenja zglobova, prilagodbe aktivnosti, redovitog kretanja i lokalnih pristupa. Poboljšanje je obično postupno i zahtijeva ustrajnost.
Can osteoarthritis be stopped?
Osteoarthritis cannot be completely stopped, but its progression can be slowed and symptoms reduced with the right approach and lifestyle adjustments.
Which joints are most commonly affected?
The most commonly affected joints are the knees, hips, fingers, and spine, as these joints bear the most load.
How quickly does osteoarthritis progress?
The progression of osteoarthritis varies from person to person. In some, it develops over years without major symptoms, while in others symptoms appear more quickly.
Does osteoarthritis always cause pain?
No. Osteoarthritis can remain symptom-free for a long time. Pain usually appears when inflammation develops in the joint or when wear progresses.
Can movement help with osteoarthritis?
Yes. Adapted movement helps maintain joint mobility, reduces stiffness, and can relieve pain.
Can local approaches help with osteoarthritis?
Some users apply local approaches to relieve symptoms, often in combination with a compress that prolongs contact with the skin.
How long does osteoarthritis last?
Osteoarthritis develops gradually and can last for years.
When should you start taking action?
When the pain starts to recur or affect movement.